Hard Pruning Abelia

9 years ago

I bought some Kaleidoscope Abelia in the spring. They looked thick and full the container but turns out they'd been potted deep and when I pulled them out, the branches flopped out like a fan, leaving literally no stems growing upright with nothing in the middle. Some of the stems only went one direction. They looked horrible but I wanted to give them a chance. It's been 6 months at least now, and they haven't filled out at all. My last resort is a hard pruning, I want to start fresh but don't want to kill them. Can I cut them level to the ground or is there a minimum amount I'll need to leave? And when should this be done for best results (I'm in zone 8/9).

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

9 years ago

Abelia responds very well to a hard prune. But I'd wait until late winter or early spring before doing so......when you begin to notice some new bud growth emerging along the stems.

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Comments (6)

Embothrium
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Yes to the preceding.
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Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Once they get established, they will grow really robustly each season and you may be forced to trim them back, depending on how much space you have.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
Can I cut them level to the ground or is there a minimum amount I'll need to leave?

==>> cut to about 3 inches ... or so ... unless i stand corrected ...

ken
Sara Malone Zone 9b
9 years ago
With these it doesn't matter - they will grow from wherever you cut them. You can cut them as low as you can.
Embothrium
9 years ago
I wouldn't, I would cut back to several inches. Every three or four years, as needed.

Despite this introduction being depicted as a low dwarf mound I've seen boxed examples at an independent nursery here in the past that were shooting straight up in the manner that abelias often do when stimulated by frequent watering, were maybe even 3 ft. tall or approaching it.